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(Modem 0% n Y EH NE E W 9 t S SVU r m 0 R UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES S. WHITNEY, OF OANASERAGA, NEW YORK.

ROTARY STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 232,793, datedSeptember 28, 1880.

Application filed June 22, 1880. (Model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES S. WHITNEY, ofOanaseraga, in the county of Allegany, and in the State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in RotarySteam-Engines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact de scription thereof, reference being bad to theaccompanying drawin gs, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,making a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangementof a rotary engine, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my inventionappertains to make and use the same, I will 110w proceed to describe itsconstruction and operation, referring to the annexed drawings, inwhich-- Figure l is a vertical cross-section of the entire engine. Fig.2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 aredetailed views of parts thereof.

The engine consists of a cylindrical case, A, a cylinder or hub, B,shaft 0, heads E E, abutments D D, set-bolts P P, pistons F, spiralsprings N, metal packing-rings e, elastic packings 0, followers 1), andfollower-bolts a. The cylindrical case A, abutments D, and set-bolts Pare stationary. The hub B, shaft 0, bolts H, pistons F, springs N, headsE, rings 0, packing 0, follower b, and bolts (1, revolve.

The shaft 0 is supported in bearings outside of the engine. The hub B iskeyed to the shaft 0, and the heads E are secured to the hub by bolts H.On the inside of the heads E, and near their outer circumference, isturned a slot to correspond with V-shaped grooves in the case A, whichslot is for the reception of metal packingrings 0, rings of elasticpacking 0, and metal rings 1), which act as followers.

At suitable distances on the outside of each head E, and on a circleopposite said slot, are placed bolts to, which, being turned in,forcethe rings 0 into the V- shaped grooves, making a steam-joint between thecase A and heads E.

D D are abutments, held in their places by the set; bolts P and hingesfitting into the case A. By means of the set-bolts P the abutments D canbe forced toward the center, taking up all wear, and making asteam-joint between the abutments D and hub B.

The abutment D is beveled on its edges to correspond with the bevels onthe heads E,

as shown in Fig. 2, thereby making a steamjoint, and taking up all wearwhen the abutment is forced toward the center by the bolts P.

The abutments are wedge-shaped, extending each way from the point ofcontact with the hub B. The forward incline is for the purpose ofletting the pistons F act gradually, preventing noise and undue wear onthe case A, said forward portion of each abutment being provided with anopening, J, for steam to pass through.

The hub B is slotted its entire length at suitable points, for thereception of the. pistons F, and the heads E are correspondinglyslotted, as shown in Fig. 4, at s.

The pistons F extend through the hub B and into the slots .9 in theheads, making a steamjoint on the front side of each piston. Thesepistons are held out against the case by springs N and centrifugal forcewhen in motion, the springs fitting in openings 0 in the inner edges ofthe pistons. These pistons have a short bevel extending nearly to thefront edge, allowing the steam to counterbalance the pressure from theother edge, reducing friction against the case.

i i are ports for the admission of steam. 7e 7e are exhaust-portsextending longitudinally across the case A for a sufficient distance togive the steam free vent to the open air.

The operation of the engine is as follows: The steam entering at i tacts upon the pis tons F, situated between the abutments D and theexhaustports 7c, propelling them forward until the pistons followingpass by the points of contact of the abutments and hub and take steam,the other two then exhausting, and so 011.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesired to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a rotary engine, thecombination,with the stationary case A, having V-sh aped grooves in itsedges, as described, of the rotating heads E, metal packing-rings e,elastic paekings 0, followers 1), follower-bolts a, and the hub B, andconnecting-bolts H, for securing the heads to said hub, substantially asand for the pur- 5 poses specified. v

2. The combination of the case A, rotating heads E, beveled asdescribed, the abutments D, made wed ge-shaped, and with beveled sides,as shown, and provided with openings J, and 10 the set-bolts P,substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

3. The combination, with the cylinder A, of the heads E, hub B, bolts H,pistons F, and springs N, substantially as and for the purposesspecified. 1 5

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand andseal this 8th day of June, 1880.

CHAS. S. WHITNEY.

Witnesses:

DANIEL M. PRATT, OSCAR PORTER.

